Gaza

On Sunday evening, December 2nd, the people of Sderot, Israel - a town located less than one mile from the Gaza border – gathered to light the first candle of the town’s menorah to commemorate the first day of Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah). Jews around the world celebrate this holiday which marks the time when the Maccabean Jews regained control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Second Temple. What makes the candle lighting in Sderot worth mentioning is the fact that it is symbolic of how the Jewish spirit looks for ways to turn tragedy into triumph.

Since Israel’s unilateral disengagement from Gaza in 2005, the standard of living for the Palestinian people in Gaza has steadily declined even though Israel gifted the Palestinians with thriving agricultural lands, productive greenhouses and beautiful beachfront communities.